Weekend bootcamp over Friday 16th afternoon and Saturday 17th February. The shortlisted finalists rehearse their pitch and get feedback from our coach and the rest of the cohort. We'll be having IT and sales consultant Angelika Lattner from Germany leading the bootcamp, plus other contributions from top class organisations to prepare the startups for their adventure from the legal side of things. These pre-acceleration activities will be followed by one-to-one interviews (Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th) to get to know you, your team and your project better.

A pre-pitch Meetup is planned for Thursday 22nd February as part of the Startup Open Club series.

All pre-acceleration events are mandatory for the Malta-based startups, while video conferencing facilities will be made available only for foreign-based startups. ​ More details to be communicated soon.

The final pitch to be selected for the four-month programme will be held on Saturday 24th February 2018. Project kick-off is now planned for Monday 12th March 2018. Check Events page for more details.

Programme Timeline and Description

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We are looking for richer technological content and will once again privilege ideas that leverage the concept of using Malta as a testbed for digital products to launch on global markets. Applicants must demonstrate proper validation of the problem they are solving and customer segment they are targeting, as well as sustainability of the business model. Do not propose ideas based on an untested assumptions.

Emerging technologies and/or disruptive models such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things will be preferred over business ideas based on Apps and eCommerce, although these will not be excluded if the validation process is robust.

Click on the link button below to download the Guidelines of the call.

Startups selected for acceleration are expected to sign the Letter of Award with terms and conditions and startup responsibilities. These include the need to formalise into a business undertaking, generally a partnership en nom collectif registered with the Malta Financial Services Authority with an option to later incorporate into a limited liability company depending on future prospects resulting from the outcome of tests, further investment, etc. Click the button below to view a template of the Letter of Award.

Click here​ to download the presentation covering the entire MIH programme from November 2017 to June 2018.

The main changes with respect to the last edition of YouStartIT are (i) the introduction of a Social Impact Programme to ensure startups return some value to the local community and participate actively in our programme (ii) an improved process for the registration of startups as a business undertaking.

We strongly recommend that you start filling out the application form as early as possible and keep working on it online without submitting, as this gives us to opportunity to pre-assess online what you do and guide you accordingly through Design Thinking exercises.

If you are an EU national and​ a non-resident you are eligible to apply, as long as you register your startup as a business undertaking in Malta.If you are a third country national (i.e. non-EU, e.g. US, Russia, Ukraine, etc.) you are also eligible to apply, as long as you register your startup as a business undertaking in Malta. However, if you are not a Maltese resident already, you should first check visa and residency permit requirements to ensure you are able to participate and complete the programme. If you require a visa to enter Malta, ensure you apply for one from the nearest Maltese consulate in your country the moment you are informed that you have been shortlisted. If you are eventually selected to join the YouStartIT#3 programme, we will allow a grace period of up to three weeks commencing on 26th February during which you will engage with us online or through video conferencing facilities.

Based on performance of the selected startup during the intake period, MIH is ready to endorse applications for renewal of 90-day visasfor founders from countries that require a visa, as well applications for a residence permit for countries not requiring a visa. We will be provding more details in our FAQs later.